“Including anything you gave her, Sloane.”

“It’s over.”

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour.

The sound was heavy, vibrating through the floorboards.

I looked at the mahogany doors.

The brass handle was turning.

The door pushed open, and the butler stood in the threshold, holding a silver tray with a single envelope on it.

“Excuse me, Madam,” the butler said to Vivian.

“A courier just delivered this.”

“It is marked urgent.”

Vivian reached out her thin, ringed fingers and took the envelope from the silver tray.

She sliced it open with a silver letter opener from the desk.

Her eyes scanned the page.

“It is the formal summons for tomorrow at nine,” Vivian said, her voice dry.

She folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket.

“You should spend the night packing a small bag, Evelyn,” she added.

Carter stepped toward the door, gesturing for Sloane to follow him.

Sloane did not look at me as she walked out.

Her heels clicked rapidly against the parquet floor.

“Get some sleep,” Carter said, his voice flat.

The door closed behind them, leaving me alone in the library.